BG 17:11-12-13 – Three types of yadnyas

Like a devoted wife doe not develop any desire for another man; or, river Ganga, after merging with the ocean, does not attempt to go further; or, Vedas keep quiet after they see the real self. Similarly, those people who devote all their focus to their own spiritual welfare and do not harbour any ego with a desire for fruit in their mind. Water, when fed at the root of a tree, does not return back (by assessing whether the tree is good or bad), but merges with the tree and nourishes it. Likewise, those people who get engrossed with the performance of a yadnya with all their mind and body, but do not harbour any desire for the fruit of that yadnya; who discard the desire for fruit and become detached from everything except their svadharma (right duty), to perform a perfect yadnya. If we hold a mirror in our hand, we can see our own face; or, we can see very clearly the precious stone on our palm in the light of a lamp ; or, we can see the path clearly when the day comes up.

Similarly, those who trust and follow the path advised by Vedas, make such elaborate preparations for the yadnya, that it appears as if Vedas themselves have come there and made all preparations! Like ornaments put in the right places look good; similarly, these people arrange everything very neatly. When we see their pandal for the yadnya, it seems like the science of yadnya personified. Thus, a yadnya that is performed by following all the proper procedures, and where there is no desire for fruit is called sattvik yadnya. It is like people nurturing a tulsi plant, though there is no flower or fruit to be got from it.

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Now, Arjuna, rajas yadnya is also performed in a similar manner; but it is like inviting the king for a shraddha luncheon (ancestor’s death anniversary)! The objective is to derive some benefit from the king by treating him to lunch and also getting some fame because the king had come to their house. Thus, they look for double fruit – the shraddha will anyway be done and the king’s presence will bring its own benefits. Thus, such a person harbours a desire for fruit and thinks to himself tha the will attain heaven, people will honour him by calling him “deekshit” (one who has performed yadnyas) and he would have performed a great deed like a yadnya. Thus, the yadnyas that are performed only with the desire for fruit and for name and fame, are rajas yadnyas.

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Now about tamas yadnya. Like there is no need of a priest for the marriage of animals and birds; similarly, the only reason for a tamas yadnya is a misplaced insistence. Wind does not need a path to blow; or, there is no auspicious needed for death; and if fire were to be afraid of burning some prohibited material, only then would a tamas yadnya be bound by scriptural procedures! So, Arjuna, a tamas yadnya does not follow any limits. It is not bothered about ceremonial injunctions, does not need mantras, and even a fly passing through the pandal does not get any food! Since brahmins are hated there, there is no question of any dakshina (cash given to the priests performing a ceremony) for them. Like fire gets even more furious when wind starts blowing; or, the house of a person dying without any offspring, is robbed by anyone and everyone. Similarly, money is spent in such a yadnya, but there is no faith. Such is tamas yadnya.

Footnote :

Continuing with English translation of the great Sant Shri Dnyaneshwar’s commentary on Shrimad Bhagawad Geeta (BG) titled Bhavarthdeepika in Marathi and commonly known in Maharashtra as Shri Dnyaneshwari. This is the 282nd post.

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(The English translation is based on the prose rendering in Marathi of Shri Dnyaneshwari by Rev. Nanamaharaj Saakhare.)

Bhagawad Geeta verse 17:11

अफलाकांक- षिभिर्यद्- ्यो विधिदृष्टो- य इज्यते ।

यष्टव्यमे- वेति मन: समाधाय स सात्त्विक: ॥

Bhagawad Geeta verse 17:12

अभिसंधाय तु फलं दंभार्थमपि- चैव यत्‌ ।

इज्यते भरतश्रेष्ठ- तं यद्न्यं विद्धि राजसम्‌ ॥

Bhagawad Geeta verse 17:13

विधिहीनम- ृष्टान्नं मंत्रहीनमद- क्षिणम्‌ ।

श्रद्धावि- रहितं यद्न्यं तामसं परिचक्षते ॥

Literal Meaning : - -

A yadnya performed with great determination and purely out of a sense of duty, by following the scriptural injunctions by those people who do not harbour any desire for fruit is called sattvik yadnya.

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Oh Arjuna, a yadnya performed with some fruit in mind and for showing off one’s greatness is called rajasik yadnya.

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A yadnya performed without following the scriptural injunctions, without feeding people, without giving dakshina (cash given to priests) and without faith is called tamas yadnya.